Saviola shines as Barcelona take a stroll in Moscow

Lokomotiv Moscow 1 Barcelona 3

Javier Saviola scored twice here last night to give Barcelona a third straight win in Europe and leave them on the brink of qualifying for the second stage of the Champions' League.

Despite a spirited performance, Lokomotiv were overwhelmed by an irresistible Barça side. The hosts abandoned their usual tentative, short-passing game for a fast-paced, energetic approach, but were undone by Patrick Kluivert's opener and a glittering double from Saviola. It gave the Catalans a historic first-ever win in Moscow and their third consecutive victory in Group H. James Obiorah scored Lokomotiv's consolation goal with an excellent solo effort.

Heavy afternoon rain in the Russian capital made for a wet playing surface, but both teams clipped the ball about slickly in the early stages. Barcelona had the ball in the net as early as the four-minute mark when Frank de Boer's stinging shot was parried by Sergei Ovchinnikov and Saviola lashed the loose ball back past the Lokomotiv goalkeeper, but the diminutive Argentinian was ruled offside.

Lokomotiv, who were without their key playmakers Marat Izmailov and Dmitri Loskov, allowed Barça space on the ball – exactly what Real Betis had not allowed them on Saturday night. Barça crashed 3-0 to the Seville side in a shocking warm-up for their trip to Russia, but Louis van Gaal backed his players to come good last night.

Xavi had already forced a good diving save out of Ovchinnikov with a long-range effort before Luis Enrique and Kluivert linked up to deadly effect in the 29th minute. The pair have been deadly in both La Liga and in Europe this season and this time Luis Enrique nodded down a Gaizka Mendieta cross for Kluivert to hit his second goal of this season's competition.

Saviola struck three minutes later with a terrific flicked header after Xavi had created the chance. The double strike hurt the Russians' confidence and from then until half-time Barcelona were able to control the game.

The Catalans were coasting, stroking the ball forward confidently as they searched for more goals, but with the tireless Vladimir Maminov working hard in the Lokomtiv midfield, the home side never looked completely overawed. Indeed it was Maminov who almost pulled a goal back before the interval, bringing the ball down on the edge of the box before firing narrowly wide.

Saviola made the game safe in the 48th minute, controlling the ball on the edge of the 18-yard box and driving a low right-footed shot into the net. But as Van Gaal began to think about changes, Obiorah gave Lokomotiv a glimmer of hope with the best goal of the game.

The Nigerian, who was easily Lokomotiv's best player on the night, but who had been booked for diving in the first half, displayed the finer aspects of his game by neatly nodding a high ball over Carlos Puyol and racing around him to lob the advancing Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes from an acute angle with his right foot.

While the goal put some life back into the Russian side, Barcelona settled for a policy of containment, retaining possession and slowing the game down in the face of Lokomotiv's efforts. In the end, the Russians could not find a way through as and the Spaniards killed the match off expertly.

Kluivert could have made it 4-1 in the 73rd minute when his left-footed drive hit the post from close range, but Barça did not need a fourth.

Lokomotiv Moscow: Ovchinnikov; Nizhegorodov, Ignashevitch, Obradovic, Evseev, Sennikov, Drozdov, Lekcetho, Maminov, Obiorah (Buznikin, 66), Pimenov. Substitutes not used: Khapov (gk), Cesar, Pachinine, Vucicevic, Mnguni, Adamu.

Barcelona: Valdes; De Boer, Puyol, Navarro, Xavi, Cocu, Mendieta, Luis Enrique (Geovanni, 61), Motta, Kluivert (Gerard, 75), Saviola (Rochemback, 86). Substitutes not used: Enke (gk), Reiziger, Christanval, Gabri.

Referee: M McCurry (Scotland).